Bridge.



J. B. STRAUSS.

- BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1907.

1.3%.,762. Patented Feb. 8,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. B. STRAUSS.

BRIDGE.

v APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1907- Ll'yfifi Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

tamer.

To" all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STRAUss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement'in Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to bridges, and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing one form of bridge embodying the invention, taken on line 1'1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 isa sectional.

1 of the bridge normally rests upon the abutments 2 when closed, but when open is carried by the supports 3. The connection to the main span is made through the frames 4, and the connecting pieces 5. There are two frames 4 and they are pivotally con nected to the supports by the pivots or pins 6. The supports 4 are provided with counterweights 7 to balance the weight of the span applied to each frame when the bridge '-1s open. Some suitable means is provided for moving the main span. Any suitable apparatus for this purpose may be used. As herein shown a motor 8 is mounted in any suitable position andv is connected by gears to a rack 9 fastened to the main span. It will be seen that when the motor is operated the main span will be moved to one side and upward so as to take the position shown in dotted lines in Fi 1. Some means is preferably provided or automatically moving the bridge when it is desired to. let

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed November 4, 1907. Serial No. 400,690.

a vessel pass. Any suitable arrangement for this purpose may be used. As herein shown there is provided a device acted upon by the vessel, such device being connected with the bridge in such a manner as to cause it to be lifted when the vessel, makes this contact, and also cause the bridge to be automatically closed after the vessel passes. As herein shown a shaft or movable part 10 is mounted in bearings 0r supports at the bottom of the channel, and has connected therewith an engaging device 11 arranged so that when engaged by the vessel the shaft 10 is rocked. The shaft 10 projects beyond the channel and the end thereof projects into a compartment 12 (see Fig. 1), and has fastened to it the arms 13 and 14, one projecting above and the other below the shaft. The arm 13 is connected with another arm 26, the two arms being insulated from each other. Associated with the arm 13 are the electrical contacts 16 and 17, and associated with the arm 26 are the electrical contacts 27, 28. The arms 13 and 26 are connected to the source of electric supply, while the contacts 16 and 17, 27 and 28 are connected with the electric motor 8. When the arms 13 and 26 are in their normal position they are between their associated contacts and out of contact with them. Some suitable means such as the springs 18 are arranged to move the arm to its normal non-contact position. The arm 14 is connected by the connecting piece 19 with another movable part or shaft 20 on the other side of the bridge. This shaft is also mounted in supports or bearings at the bed of the stream, and has an upwardly projecting engaging part 21 in the path of the vessel. The apparatus is arranged so that when the vessel, for example, strikes the engaging part 11 the bridge will be lifted, and after the vessel passes the bridge and strikes the engaging part 21 the bridge will be closed, the action being automatic. In view of the fact that the main span has to be moved in the direction of its length, some suitable arrangement must be provided to permit this. As herein shown there is provided at the end of the bridge a movable part 22 which is pivoted to the main span at 23, and is arranged so that when in line with the main span, as

shown in Fig. 1, its further downward movement will be stopped. Any suitable arrangement may be used for this purpose, as, for example, the stop 24 projecting under the part 22 as shown. This part 22 is provided With an inclined face 25 which engages an inclined face on a stationary part associated with the roadway. When the bridge first starts to move the inclined face 25 will slide on the opposed inclined face, the part 22 being thus moved about its pivotal connection, and the bridge may thus be moved without injury to the roadway.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: The parts are normally as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. If now a vessel passes along the channel it will strike the engaging device 11 and move it so as to rotate shaft 10. This movement of the shaft moves the arms 13 and 26 so as to connect them with the electrical contacts 28 and 17, thus completing the circuit through the motor 8. The motor is then set in operation, and by means of its engagement with the rack 9 the bridge is moved to the position shown in dotted'lines in Fig. 1. When the vessel passes over the engaging device '11 the parts are moved to their normal position by the springs 18, and the current cut off, the bridge being then held, in its open position. The vessel now passes beneath the bridge, and when it reaches the engaging device 21 it strikes such engaging device and moves it so as to rock the shaft 20. This shaft is connected by connecting piece 19 and arm 14 with the shaft 10 and arm 13. This movement of the shaft and arm moves the arms 13 and 26 so as to connect the engaging device 11 the parts will be moved to reverse the motor and close the bridge. It will thus be seen that there is here provided an economical form of bridge adapted to be operated automatically to permit vessels 'to pass. I

It will be noted that while the bridge span is supported upon pivote'd arms, means are v .provided for giving ita motion of transla tion in opening and closing it. I

I claim'; I 1. A swinging lift brid e comprising a bridge span, a supporting evice'therefor at each side of the channel, a connection between the supporting device and the bridge span pivoted both to the supports and the bridge span.

2. A swinging lift bridge comprising a bridge span pivotally supported on opposite sides of the channel upon swinging arms at the endsthereof, and means for rotating said arms about a fixed point so as to lift the span. 7

3. A swinging lift bridge comprising a bridge span, stationary supporting devlces at each end thereof, arms connected by pins wlth sa1d supporting devices and pivotally connected with said span, and counterweight materlal applled to said arms, the pivots bemg located abovethe span between the counterweight material and the span.

f1. A swinging lift bridge comprising a bridge span, supports at each side of the channel therefor, connections from the bridge to said supports, said connections pivotally connected with the supports and the brldge span, and means for moving the brldge span with relation to said pivotal connectlons.

5. A bridge, comprising a longitudinally and vertically movable span adapted to be opened and closed by.simulta'neous longitudinal and vertical movement, operating mechanism for sa1d span located beyond the boundaries of the water-way for vessels, and connected withsaid span so as to move it longitudmally and vertically, and means located in the water-way for automatically with said shafts and projecting into the paths of the vessels so as to be moved by passing vessels to rock said shafts, a connect- 1ng member between said shafts, means for mamtammg the engaging devices normally in a vertical plane, contact pieces associated with one of said cross shafts, an arm moved by sa1d cross shaft so as to control said contact pieces, a motor for operating the bridge and electrical connections between said contacts and said motor and an operative connection between said motor and said bridge,

whereby the bridge is moved when the motor 1s operated.

7. A- swinging lift bridge comprising a brldge span, supports therefor located above the bridge span, swinging arms pivoted to sa1d bridge span and to said supports above thebrldge span and projecting above the pivotal connections to said supports, and means for moving said arms about their pivotal points to bodily lift the bridge span.

8. A swinging lift bridge comprising a bridge span pivotally supported on vertical sw nging arms, sa d arms mounted on an was above the brldge span and provided with suitable counterweight so that the bridge span will be balanced in all'its positions.

9. A swinging lift bridge pemprising a bridge span, vertical swinging arins I on.

which said bridge span is'pivotally mounted, said arms depending from fixed supports above the roadway, counterweight applied to said arms to balance the weight of the bridge span, and means for moving said 10 arms to swing the bridge span clear of the channel.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS. Witnesses:

EDNA K. REYNOLDS, LticY A. FALKENBERG. 

